A literature review examines the scholarly literature around your particular thesis or hypothesis. It is not a review of the entire field, but of fields related directly to your study. A literature review is a critical survey and assessment of the existing research on a particular topic. The emphasis here is on the word “critical” – showcasing your critical thinking skills in this document is part of the reason for doing it.
A literature review should systematically describe, summarise, evaluate and clarify current thinking in the field, then synthesise what you have found to create a justification for your own project.
Use the techniques of active reading when preparing your literature review, posing questions as you go. Your approach will also involve organised reading, creating a growing and dynamic document or series of documents that accumulate your raw materials and deepen your understanding.
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The following links come from the highly regarded Purdue University Online Writing Lab.
Your Liaison Librarian will be able to provide support and advice when you are doing your literature review, so make an appointment with your librarian when you start your research.
The next video (Part 2) can be viewed by clicking the link at the end of this video.
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